Glorious beaches, intriguing wildlife and photographic landscapes; Western Australia begs to be explored. Travelling and sight-seeing does work up an appetite, so if you’re heading to WA and looking for a place to eat, we’ve scoped out the best spots.
From fine-dining and winery fair to shared plates and refreshing desserts; the café and restaurant scene in WA has plenty of options to suit your tastes and budget.
Here’s 7 great places to start eating your way around WA!
1. Co-op Dining, East Perth
The award-winning Co-op Dining is the place to visit if you’re looking to experience the regional flavours of WA in a fine-dining atmosphere. Their degustation menu incorporates wild and foraged foods helping promote the vast food culture of the region, while tantalising your senses. No two dining experiences will be the same, with the menu continuously changing depending on the availability of seasonal produce. You may have the opportunity to taste Shark Bay Amaebi prawns, Kangaroo tail, fresh ricotta, globe artichokes or Manjimup Rainbow trout.
It’s seriously delicious cuisine and the attention to detail to impressive. You’ll have an unforgettable experience at Co-op Dining.
2. Due South, Albany
Located on Albany’s waterfront, Due South is a generous sized pub that cooks a good feast. As with many restaurants in WA, the chef at Due South showcase the very best of the region’s produce. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the menu is extensive and so is their drinks list. Featuring over 70 local wines and an impression 24 beer taps, you’ll be thankfully the bar staff all hold a responsible service of alcohol wa accreditation!
So, sit back, enjoy a good feed and a drink whilst taking in the waterside view.
3. Margaret River Taphouse
When a place is filled with locals, you know it’s a good place to eat. Taphouse is where you need to go if you want a warm and lively atmosphere, a great pizza and a carafe of an award-winning wine. Breakfast is also served on the weekends with dishes like Chorizo, fried egg, avocado and black beans on soft taco to fuel your day of adventure. On a warm day, sit on the veranda under the lush grapevine or snuggle by the fire on a cool evening.
Look out for live music and happy hour specials where the locals enjoy a social night out. For those who prefer a night in, their pizzas are available to take-away too.
4. Cape Lodge, Yallingup
Want to combine eating with an unforgettable experience? The monthly cooking class at the 5-star boutique hotel, Cape Lodge, will provide just that. You’re in good hands with executive chef Michael Elfwing, who has worked in some of the best kitchens around the world including Heston Blummenthal’s Fat Duck.
You’ll learn how to prepare local produce to create a decadent three course meal, which Elfwing assures us you can recreate at home. After all your hard work, relax and enjoy a three-course lunch with your fellow cooks paired with Cape Lodge Wines.
5. Old Faithful Bar & BBQ, Perth
If you’re a fan of slow cooked smokey meats, rich BBQ sauces and intensely flavoured rubs, then head to Old Faithful Bar & BBQ. They were the first to bring the authentic American-style BBQ fair to the Perth people and it’s been a hit since it opened in 2014. Venture to Old Faithful if you’re looking for succulent slow cooked meat and a rustic atmosphere resembling more of a food truck than a restaurant. It’s also the place you can ditch the silverware and linen napkins to enjoy getting your hands dirty.
It’s cheap, cheerful and delicious! Be sure to check out the weekly specials like ‘Wing Wednesday’ with 75c wings.
6. Vasse Felix, Cowaramup
If you’re travelling to WA, on your itinerary should be a tour of Margaret River vineyards. First stop, Vasse Felix, the first commercial vineyard to establish in the area. The picturesque property is a glorious setting for a relaxing lunch after a wine-tasting. The modern Australian al a carte menu showcases local produce in its seasonal dishes like the duck with beetroot, youngberry and wattle pastrami and the barramundi, cabbage, tomato, corn and koji.
Booking for lunch in the restaurant is recommended, however if you miss out you can still enjoy a charcuterrie or cheese platter with wine in the lounge.
7. Gusto Gelato
Perth doesn’t just show off its regional savoury produce and cooking skills; it also has it’s fair share of delicious dessert venues. Gusto Gelato is one place you won’t regret heading to for a mouth-watering, authentic sweet treat. Try the ‘Brittle Sweet Symphony’ of smooth honey gelato, laced with rough cut pieces of almond brittle and dark chocolate. Warning – you may just feel like you’ve died and gone to heaven.
If you fancy yourself as a gelato expert, try your hand at whipping up your own flavour with a gelato class. The best bit, you’ll walk away with a 1L tub of Gusto Gelato to tuck into in front of a good flick.
There’s no shortage of tasty places to devour the best of WA’s local produce. Where’s your favourite place to tuck in for a feast?
